The Willow Glen Resident

Photograph by Skye Dunlap

Family Planner: Willow Glen resident James Zetterquist and his daughter, Erica, celebrate his recent appointment to the Planning Commission--and her recent first birthday.

Council Watch

City Council appoints Glenite to planning position

Zetterquist owns design firm, has served on other city commission

By Cecily Barnes

At its June 23 meeting, the San Jose City Council performed an incredible feat. In two hours, councilmembers turned 35 applications for planning commissioner into five appointments, including one for Willow Glen resident James Zetterquist. Also appointed were incumbents Gloria Chun Hoo and Forrest Williams and newcomers Sharon Godbolt and Jay Ross.

Past Willow Glen Neighborhood Association president Tiralisa Kaplow was one of nine applicants who made it to the last step of the interview process, but she was passed over during the final cut.

"I feel very honored that I was selected to be one of the final candidates interviewed and will continue to serve the community in other ways," Kaplow said.

Planning commissioners attend bimonthly commission meetings, which often go on past midnight. In order to be appointed, applicants had to show they were prepared to make such a hefty time commitment.

"Because I do have the flexibility of working for myself, I can do what-ever it takes to get the job done," Zetterquist said. "Whatever it takes."

Zetterquist is plenty qualified for the position. The native San Josean lives on Cottle Avenue with his wife, Lynn, and their 1-year-old daughter, Erica, where he runs his own architectural design business. For the past four years he's served on the Historic Landmarks Commission, chairing the group during the past year and taking stands on important issues such as the demolition and/or renovation of the Jose Theater and the Montgomery Hotel. Zetterquist also served on the board of directors of the San Jose Historical Museum.

"I've always had a love for San Jose and an interest in its direction," Zetterquist said. "The goal is to make San Jose, and Willow Glen as part of it, a wonderful place."

Zetterquist says he is a strong supporter of the city's general plan and hopes to help actualize it.

"As the general plan spells out," he said, "it's very important to keep the identities of neighborhoods. That's what sets us apart from any other community. It's also important to have business attracted to San Jose."

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